Parachute



-ber f, traverses the latter escaping to the atmosphere through the central aperture e. Thus, the flexible member ,1 at first acta as a closing valve and thereupon as a channel for the escape of air.

The flow of air escaping during the descent from the aperture 6 at the top of the envelop a functions so as to permit the descent in a smooth and steady fal1, avoiding oscillations and excessive Iateral movements of the parachute, enabling the user to land precisely within relatively smal1 areas.

It is evident that the flexible tubular member f may be given any desired cross-sectional shape, either polygonal, circular, etc.

Evidentiy, the most prominent feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the same provides for the possibityof making use of a parachute at substantially reduced heights from the ground, and thereby may be considered an important improvement from the point of view of the safety factor in air navigation.

Having thus .fu11y described and ascertained the nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed and carried into practice, I claim:

1. In a parachute comprising a, canopy having a central aperture, a suspended harness and suspending cords connecting said harness to the outer edge of the canopy, in combination, a coliapsible tubular member of substantially the same diameter as said aperture, open at both ends and having one edge fixedly secured to the inner surface of the canopy coaxialiy with and around said aperture; and radiaily extending centering cords, each secured with one end to the other edge of said tubular member and With the other end to the outer edge of the canopy and being of such length as to be tensioned only in completely opened position of said canopy whereby said tubular member is straightened and takes the shape of an open tube extending at a right angle t a plane passing through the outer edge of the dis played canopy, said tubular member being of such length as to have the edge to which said centering cords are secured spaced a short distance from said plane in opened position of the canopy.

2. In a parachute comprising a canopy having a central aperture, a suspended harness and suspending cords connecting said harness to the outer edge of the canopy, in combination, a collapsib1e tubular member of cylindrical cross section cf substantialiy the same diameter as said aperture, open at both ends and having one edge fixedly secured to the inner surface of the canopy coaxially with and around said aperture; and radialiy extending centering cords, each secured with one end t the other edge of said tubular member and with the other end to the outer edge of the canopy and being of such length as to be tensioned only in completely opened position of said canopy whereby said tubular member is straightened and takes the shape of an open tube extending at a right angle to a plane passing through the outer edge of the displayed canopy, said tubular member being of such Iength as to have the edge to which said centering cords are secured spaced a short distance from said plane in opened position of the canopy.

3. In a parachute comprising a canopy having a central aperture, a suspended harness and suspending cords ccnnecting said harness to the outor edge of the canopy, in combination, a collapsible tubular member of substantially the same diameter as said aperture, open at both ends and having one edge fixedly secured to the inner surface of the canopy coaxially with and around said aperture; and radialiy extending centering cords, each secured with one and to the other edge of said tubular member and with the other end to the outer edge of the canopy spaced at substantia1ly equal distances about the periphery of the canopy and being of such length as to be ten sioned only in completeiy opened position of said canopy whereby said tubular member is straightened and takes the shape of an open tube extending at a right angle to a plane passing through the outer edge of the displayed canopy, said tubular member being of such length as to have the edge to which said centering cords are secured spaced a short distance from said plane in opened position of the canopy.

VICENTE CERRELLA.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,777,934 Owens Oct. 7, 1930 2,196,947 Swoiford Apr. 9, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 816,097 France Apr. 26, 1937 874,033 France Apr. 13, 1942 

